One-eyed elderly Shih Tzu, rescued after being found emaciated & severely neglected, now set for surgery

A Shih Tzu named Ariel was recently rescued by local animal welfare group HOPE Dog Rescue after being found in poor condition.

On Oct. 7, HOPE Dog Rescue shared in a blog post that they were initially alerted to Ariel's condition after she was brought in for grooming by her owner.

Health concerns

A spokesperson of HOPE Dog Rescue told Mothership that Ariel had been regularly sent for grooming between 2016 and 2019, after which the groomer did not see it again for several years.

In September 2025, Ariel was suddenly brought back to the same groomer, but this time in an unkempt condition.

The Shih Tzu, who is estimated to be around 10 to 12 years old, was found severely emaciated with matted fur and overgrown nails.

One of her eyes had also been surgically removed due to a prior infection.

Her coat was also heavily stained and smelled of urine, suggesting that she may have been kept in unhygienic conditions for a prolonged period.

Veterinarians who examined Ariel later found palpable lumps on her mammary glands and noted that she was not sterilised.

The groomer, recognising the extent of her condition, sought advice from the animal welfare group and urged the owners to surrender Ariel if they were unable to care for it properly.

However, the owners initially refused, paid for the grooming, and left.

Three weeks later, they contacted the groomer again and agreed to surrender Ariel.

The road ahead

The rescue group updated on Oct. 26 that Ariel will soon require a major surgery, as a 4cm mass was discovered in her spleen.

Ariel remains severely underweight and will need time to regain strength and body mass before the procedure can be carried out.

HOPE Dog Rescue is currently appealing for donations to help cover Ariel's veterinary expenses and ongoing care.

They added that Ariel will be available for adoption once she makes a full recovery, which could take a few months.

Members of the public who wish to contribute or learn more about Ariel’s recovery can click here.

Get well soon, Ariel.

Top image via HOPE Dog Rescue